Railway rail drilling machine



y 1940- E. A. EVERETT 2,201,032

RAILWAY RAIL DRILLING MACHINE Original Filed April 12, 1935 3Sheets-Sheet 2 A RNEY.

May 14, 1940. E. A. EVERETT ,2

RAILWAY RAIL DRILLING MACHINE Original Filed April 12, 1953 ssheets-sheet s fi vww m Wu ANN WQN V WQN Patented May 14, I946 UNITEDsrarss PATENT OFFICE RAILWAY RAIL DRILLING MACHINE Original applicationApril 12, 1933, Serial No. 665,737. Divided and this application June12, 1937, Serial No. 148,986

7 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for working on. the rails of arailway track and is shown applied to a drilling machine for drillingthe rail for attaching electric bonds at the rail joints.

These bonds are sometimes applied to the head of the rail and sometimesto the Web of the rail and it is desirable that a machine for thispurpose should be adaptable for drilling either location of the rail. Inaddition to this it is desirable to be able to drill a pair of holesspaced at predetermined distance apart by moving the drilling mechanismon its support which is rigidly clamped to the rail. The presentinvention is directed to the method of securing the drilling 15 machineto the rail for the purpose above referred to. This comprises a verticalmember having a head, formed in a jaw which rests upon the top of therail and has a pair of spaced depending arms which engage the side ofthe rail. Opposed to these arms is the clamping member mounted in thejaw and secured to the rail by a cam action. The vertical member islocated to project over the rail head and is provided with a verticalslot by means of which the frame of the drilling machine is secured todrill the head or to drill the web of the rail. The frame of thedrilling machine is pivotally secured to the vertical member and isprovided with a transverse slot whereby it may swing on the pivot toadjust the position of the drill horizontally and as limited by thetransverse slot. These and other objects of the invention will be moreparticularly understood from the following specification and theaccompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation, partlysectioned, of a rail with the drilling machine attached thereto; Fig. 2is a back elevation of the machine complete; Fig. 3 is an elevation fromthe front opposite to Fig. 2 with part of the cover removed to show themechanism; Fig. 4 is a side elevation and Fig. 5 is an end View of theclamping member, mounted in the jaw of the head; Fig. 6 is the camshaftof the clamping member and Fig. 7 is an end View of the camshaft; Fig. 8is a sectional elevation of the gear box and spindle that may be usedfor the drill mechanism; Fig. 9 is a front view of a step cam that maybe used for feeding the drill and Fig. 10 is an enlarged section of thefeeding cam. This application is a division from my 00-- pendingapplication, Serial No. 665,737, filed April 12, 1933, now Patent2,112,694, March 29, 1938.

Drilling rails for bond connections requires a special type of drillingmachine, one which is readily portable, easily attached to .and removedfrom the rail and one which has a self-feeding mechanism for the drill.Machines of this type are in common use but in order to apply bond wireterminals to the head of the rail it is necessary to limit the drillingto a predetermined depth. It is also necessary to be able to space thedrilling in the end of each rail with considerable accuracy to suit theshort bonds that are used at this location. In addition to this, it isdesirable that the machines be easily adjustable to drill either theball of the rail or the web of the rail. The drilling machineillustrated in Figs. 1 to 10 inclusive embodies these features and asshown may be handoperated or may be operated by a suitable motor.

In the drawings, 2M indicates a gear case enclosing a chain gear betweenthe hand operated mechanism and the gear box. By the arms 202 and 283,the gear case connects to the frame 204 and the gear box 205 isconnected to the lower end of the gear case and is provided with thehand wheel 205 for adjusting the drill 208 car- 'ried by the chuck 201against the ball of the rail 209.

The handle 2!!) connects with the chain gear 2 and the chain 2|2 drivesthe gear 2l3, Fig. 8. This gear is splined at 2l6 upon the hollow stem2|! and has the hub 2M mounted in the ball bearing M5. The hollow stem2ll is splined at 2IB to the drill spindle 2&9 which carries the chuck220 and the drill 208. From this construction it will be noted that therotating gear 2! rotates the stem 2!! and the drill spindle 2l9 but eachof these parts are free to move longitudinally with respect to eachother.

The adjusting screw 22l engages the hollow interior of the drill spindle2 l9 and is provided with a collar 223 which abuts on the shoulder ofthe hollow stem Zll so that when the hand wheel 2% is rotated the shaft222 rotates the screw 22! and moves the drill 2H8 forwards or backwardsas may be required to position the drill against the rail or to positionthe drill at a predetermined starting point. As the stem 2!! and thedrill spindle 2l9 rotate together at the same speed, the adjustment thusmade by the wheel 206 remains until changed by this wheel. The righthand stem of 2|! is mounted in the ball bearing 224. i

The wide faced spur gear 225 is formed integral with stem 2" and engagesspur gear 226 which is fixedly mounted on shaft 228 with spur gear 221.The gear 221 engages spur gear 229 loosely mounted on the stem 2|! andhaving a cam 230 formed on its face. A collar 231 secured by suitablepins at 238 to rotate with gear 225 engages the cam 230. This collar isformed in a cam with a step at 23 1, Figs. 9 and 10, which engages acorresponding step 235 on cam 230. As these cam surfaces are rotatedrelative to each other they gradually separate on the inclined faces ofthe cam until a complete revolution is made when the steps are inregister as in Fig. 1G and the mechanism is in position for anotheroperation. The spur gear 229 engages the bearing 224 and is held againstthe lateral movement by the gear case. This results in a separatingaction between cams 23B and 23! forcing the spur gear 222, Fig. 8, tothe left and through the collar 223, screw 22! and drill spindle 2!!!the drill is forced to the left to the extent of the step in the cam.

As the gear 225 is forced to the left, the spring 232, engaged by plate233, is gradually compressed until the step is reached when this springautomatically restores the drill to the starting position. In Figs. 9and 10 it will be noted that approaching the step of the cams there is aflat portion 2% on one side and a flat portion 231 on the opposite sidein which there is no rise in the cams. This is to provide for asuflicient number of rotations of the drill to out itself free of campressure before Withdrawing it from the rail hole and which can readilybe detected, also the depthof the hole does not change due to wear ofthe feeding surfaces of the cams.

The depth with which the hole is drilled is etermined by the rise of thecams and the rate of feed of the drill relative to its rotation isdetermined by the differential in the gear ratio between gear 225 and229. If this diiferenceis, for example, one in forty, the cams will havemade one revolution relative to each other for forty revolutions ofthe'drill.

The drilling machine is secured in position by an upstanding bracketwhich is designed to clamp to the head of the rail. This bracket 25! hasa foot 252 which rests on top of the rail and is provided with a flange253 which develops into the bearing 25 i and the clamping arm 255 on oneside and the flange 255 which develops into the bearing 251 and theclamping arm 258 on the opposite side. The clamping arm 259 is pivotallyconnected at 265i to the bearings 254 and 251 and is provided with theslot 251, Fig. 4, which engages the eccentric portion 254, Fig. 6, of ashaft connected at 263 with the handle 262 and having the bearings 265and 2% working in 251 and 25 3. The clamping arm 259 is provided with anadjusting screw 26% and opposes the arm 255i and 258 as it is tightenedon the rail by the movement of handle 262. The end of screw 252 may beprovided with a suitable cap where it seats between the rail ends.

The upstanding bracket 25! is provided with a slot 211 at the top and alower slot 212. The pivot bolt 213 is rigidly secured in the upper slotagainst the collar 214 and forms a pivot around which the entire machineswings, the frame being secured to this pivot bolt by the nut 215. An

. eye 21? is mounted on bolt 213 and has a proiecting leg 213 extendinginto a slot 219 in the upper portion of the frame. This leg is threadedto receive the adjusting bolt 28!] which is threaded in the nut 253i, isrotated by the hand wheel 282 and is locked in position by the wheel283. The bolt 2% is provided with a right and left hand thread engaging218 and 28! whereby the eye 211 is raised or lowered in the slot 216 ofthe frame to secure a comparatively rapid and accurate adjustment of theposition of the drill relative to the rail. Frequent adjustments may benecessary when working on the ball of the rail.

As a pair of holes must be drilled for each rail bond and as the bondsare comparatively short and limited in length, it is desirable thatthese holes be spaced with considerable accuracy an equal distance fromthe end of each rail. For this purpose the machine is clamped to thetrack with the center clamp at the abutting ends of the rails and theclamp is retained in this position while both holes are drilled, themachine being swung about the pivot bolt 2'33 an equal distance in bothdirections from the center. For this purpose the frame 294 is providedwith an arcuate slot 285, having its centre approximately on the pivotbolt 213. A bolt 286 is clamped to the frame by means of the collar 281and extends through this slot to engage the hand wheel 290. The frame isfree to swing about the bolt 213 to the extent of slot 285 and thisswing is adjusted in one direction by the stud 288 and in the oppositedirection by the stud 289. The machine is first moved in one directionto the limit of stop 288 and is clamped in this position by 298 fordrilling the first hole. When this is completed the clamp 25? isreleased and the machine is swung in the opposite direction to the limitof stop 288 when it is again clamped in position for the drilling of thesecond hole.

When it is desired to drill the web of the rail instead of the ball ofthe rail the bracket 25! is clamped to the head of the rail asdescribed, but the bolt 213, and the bolt 286 are each released andlowered in the slots 2H and 212 respectively until the drill 2B8 alignswith the position in the web of the rail to be drilled as indicated byline :r--r. In this position the machine may be arranged to drill onehole or it may be arranged to drill a pair of spaced holes in the mannerdescribed.

This machine is comparatively light, can be carried around by theoperator and is mounted on anti-friction bearings so that it can beoperated by one man.

In the construction described it will be observed that the upstandingmember 253 has a head 252 which rests upon the top of the rail andterminates in the members 256 and 251 forming a jaw constituting thebearings for the clamping member 259 operated by the handle 2'62. Thevertical face 25l of the member 253 projects beyond the plane of therail head so that the frame 204 is free to slide vertically against 251to locate the drill in the position desired. At the same time thetransverse slot 285 in the frame 204 provides for alimited swing ingmovement of the drilling mechanism about the pivot bolt 213, thusenabling a pair of holes to be drilled, spaced at a predetermineddistance apart for one location of the vertical member. The eye 211,pivotally engaging the bolt 213 is located above the center of gravityof the drilling mechanism so that this mechanism swings like a pendulum.The screws 288, 289 and 280 provide for a micrometer adjustment of theposition of the drill and the Wheel 29!) provides a lock whereby, whenin the drilling position, the machine is rigidly locked to the membersecured to the track. It will be noted that with this rail attachmentthe frame of the drilling machine is pivoted at the top and the drillingmechanism swings like a pendulum parallel with the rail. Normally, themachine centres itself by gravity on the support opposite the rail jointand it swings an equal distance in each direction from the centre asdetermined by the stop screws 288, 289, to drill a hole in each railwhich holes are equally spaced from the rail ends and are in thesamehorizontal plane.

The securing mechanism shown herein is adaptable for use on differenttypes of machines for working on the rail.

Having thus described my invention, I claim:

1. A support for securing a machine tool to a railway rail, comprising avertical member having a base resting upon the railhead and its verticalface projecting beyond the plane of the railhead, a pair of spaceddepending arms from said base arranged to engage one side of the rail, aclamping member pivoted to said base to engage the opposite side of therail between said depending arms, a cam pivoted to said base engagingsaid clamping member to engage or disengage the ally securing themachine tool to the top of said vertical member to hang vertically andto swing parallel to the rail for locating the tool in spaced positionsfrom the vertical to operate on the side of the rail.

2. Means for securing a machine tool to a railway rail comprising avertical member resting upon the rail and clamped thereto and having itsvertical face projecting outside the plane of the railhead, there beinga pair of vertical slots, one above the other, in said vertical member,a bolt adjustably located in each slot, a machine tool pivotally mountedon the bolt in the top slot to swing parallel to the rail and means onthe machine tool engaging the bolt in the lower slot to limit the extentof the swing of the machine to locate the tool for operating on therail.

3. In means for securing a machine tool having a frame to a railwayrail, the combination, a vertical member resting upon the rail andrigidly clamped thereto and having a vertical slot with a boltadjustably located therein, an eye in the frame of said machine, meansfor vertically adjusting said eye relative to said frame, said eye beingpivotally mounted on said bolt to enable the tool to swing parallel tothe rail and means for clamping said frame to the vertical member.

4. Means for securing a drilling machine with a drill spindle to arailway rail comprising a clamp and means for pivotvertical memberresting upon the rail and rigidly clamped thereto,, and having avertical slot therein and a pivot bolt adjustably located in said slot,the drilling machine having an eye vertically adjustable thereon mountedon said pivot bolt whereby the machine is free to swing parallel to therail and is vertically adjustable to drill the head of the rail or todrill the web of the rail and means for rigidly clamping the drillingmachine to the vertical member when the machine is in operation. 7

5. Means for securing a drilling machine having a frame with a drillspindle to a railway rail comprising a vertical member resting upon therail and clamped thereto, a pivot bolt at right angles to the railadjustably mounted in a vertical slot in said member, a clamping bolt insaid member, there being a transverse slot in said frame receiving saidclamping bolt, adjustable means in said frame engaging said bolt andmeans pivotally securing said frame to said pivot .bolt to swingparallel to the rail whereby the drill spindle is vertically andhorizontally adjustable relative to the rail.

6. Means for securing a drilling machine having a frame and a drillspindle to a railway rail, comprising a vertical member resting upon therail andclamped thereto and having a vertical slot therein, a pivot boltat right angles to the rail adjustably positioned in said slot, an eyein said frame pivotally mounted on said bolt,

said pivot bolt being adjustable vertically for v locating the drillspindle to drill the head of the rail and to drill the Web of the railand means providing for a limited swing of said frame parallel with therail on the pivot bolt to locate the drill spindle for drilling aplurality of holes in predetermined positions in a horizontal row ineach location.

'7. Means for securing a drilling machine with a drill spindle to drillthe ends of abutting rails at a joint, comprising a vertical membersecured to the rails at the joint and having a pivot at its top at rightangles to the rail and located perpendicular to the joint, and adrilling mechanism mounted on said pivot with the drill spindle free toswing parallel with the rail for a limited distance on each side of thejoint andmeans for independently adjusting the swing of the machine fromthe perpendicular in each direction.

EDWARD A. EVERETT,

